Diary Jack Lusby Burns - Jun - Oct -1944 - Part 6
[*Weight 61.2 kilos lost 2 6/10 kilos*]
Sunday 17th September 1944
Weigh day - 61 .2 Kilos - non lost 2 6/10 kilos - to be expected -
Light rations & stomach upset. Had a very disturbed tonight
and had to force my meals down today - Felt bloated all
day. Whilst down at the "heads" at night eaten alive by
the mosquitoes. The tail end of a typhoon struck
this place late this aft. blew down a tree & practically
all the ^surrounding fence. The J. authorities called the officer
in charge of work parties to a conference - said that we
were to lose our adjoining patch as the military. Commander
objected to P.O.W.s working there. A proposal was put up for
officers to go up on the "hill" to clear up & receive 200
grams cereals extra - this plan was vetoed as its
against our principles. The J's can't increase our food but
can do this for us seems inconsistent.
[*Moved to new Quarters. - West Bldg - room next library*]
Monday 18th September 1944.
Well, the long expected move took place - am now in Room 4
with 31 other Aussies. The whole camp has been segregated
into nationalities. Eng., Aust., Amer., & Dutch. Had to make
4 trips to do the shifting & was absolutely "pooped" by the time
I finished. Now have 4 room mosquito nets instead of
individual Nets - damned cold last night - About 02.30
had to crawl under another blanket. Personally don't care
much for the new move - old case of "divide & rule" on the
J's part. To go to the 'Head" of a night have to go outside the
bldg. - alright in summer but damned cold in winter.
Canteen issue - pills synthetic coffee (tik-tik) I pkt cigs,
curry powder, ginger & horse-radish. Feel very, very
hungry these days. Disposed of a few pkts cigs.
Tuesday 19th September 1944.
A screed on was put out Re Red X. The J. Superintendent is
considering the matter of issue of the parcels (32 of them)
to this camp & other camps. Probably be lucky to get
1 between 5. Felt rotten all day - attack of the blues
& my tail was feeling sore. Teddy Goode came in for
another yarn re the territory. Don't know what to do
re this & Hong Kong. & then have to consider what I owe
my parents. The window of our new room overlooks
the school I understand, from the work party that
more & more children are being evacuated to this island
from the cities. The question is - are these people
going to get out when Germany quits? - It doesn't look
like it with ref. to the above.
Wednesday 20th Sept 1944.
One of the officers was interviewed re the proposed "latrine
party" (officers) on the "Hill". [[Bait?]] increase rations
to 590 grams per day - 50 men to go twice a week &
have ration increase all the week. The officer
refused to have anything to do with it - saying that at
present officers physically incapable of doing such
work & also suggesting that the J's get their local
youth movement on the job & that we buy vegetables
from them with our canteen profits. The Home
Guard train on the school ground across the way. They
start at 0600 & finish at 1800hrs each day. The barracks
next door have just rec'd. a batch of new recruits.
Their reveille is at 190530 when their parade wakes us up.
Thursday 21st September 1944.
Sounded the Aust officers re a Bridge Tourney - hope
to start it next Sunday. As a drink the synthetic J.
coffee goes all right spread over one's rice. It
leaves a large sediment in the bottom of the cup when
a drink is tried to be made of it. The J's certainly
put the martial spirit into the youngster's here at an
early age - train them to march - each kid has his
own model aeroplane - and classes are run each
day signalling with flags. We get quite a good view
from our window. Started on accountancy in a
big way now that a text book has come into camp.
Problems on people's minds nowadays is - what to
do after the war.
[*Pay day -
draw 40 yen*]
Friday 22nd September 1944.
Pay day New pay no 299 - In the line 201-300 inc. 2nd
last to be paid. Due 40 yen. Had to pay in 10 yen to the
new room fund - to buy condiments, pills, etc. Cigs are
fetching 10. Everyone seems to be out. Rumour hath it that
the allies are fighting on the Rhine(?). Chance of Red X
parcels being put out tomorrow. The best we can
expect is 2 parcels between 5 people. The outside agric.
party bought in some eggplant, squash & sweet potato vines
from the officer's Club plot come to something when we eat
the latter - anything to thicken the soup. A person will
sure appreciate the ordinary things of life after this. 64 of
the Aussies have signified their willingness to play
in the Bridge Tourney.
[*Red Cross parcels issued 26 parcels for Aust Div. 91 offs.*]
Saturday 23rd September 1944.
Red Cross parcels were issued this morning - 26 parcels
were issued to the Aust. Division for 91 officers. There
they are split up & issued to the room. I received.
1 tin Bully Unfortunately the coffee had
solidified so will have to dissolve it.
3 1/2 ozs choc Done a
Chesty & old gold. fair bit of trading for other chaps
2 pkts Amer cigs 3 kinshies for x Amer. cigs
& 4 loose cigs (camels)
2 prunes Today is a J. holiday so we were all'd
1/4 tin patē (meat) to Yasume ^all day after
the inspection
18 cubes of sugar which was held at 0930. Routine
show.
1/4 tin jam (grape) Rec'd our issue of burnt rice. We
1/2 tin coffee (solid) get this about every 4-6 weeks
1/4 tin salmon Had my first tour of room duty in
1/4 box raisins the new room.
1/4 " cheese
1/4 tin speed meat (12ozs)
1/4 tin Klein (milk) powdered.
Sunday 24th September 1944.
Done a fair bit of trading for various lads - Amer. cigs
of 30¢, or 3 pkts Kinshies, Bought 3 - 1/2 cans coffee
for 3 pkts Amer.cigs. Changed an Amer. Treas.
Cheque for $156.60 for *50y & 50 pkts cigs. The
concert this evening was put on by the Aussies - a
short play - quite good. Felt a bit crook in the
tummy due to the butter & choc. I think. Some
of the connection mixed up are weird & wonderful.
'Tis a shame trying to increase our poor rations
Will be good at home to take the ingredients of a Red X
box & get out in the kitchen. Will give the mater a
surprise. Some more Amer. mail came in. We,
Aussies are waiting on some hopefully.
[*Mosquito nets taken away.*]
Monday 25th September 1944.
Out of the Red Cross issue we have 2 1/2 Tins, coffee (solid.)
1 tin patē, 1 tin salmon, 1 tin jam, & about 8 lumps
sugar, left over for the room; so this morning we
had coffee instead of tea - tasted quite nice.
Also had another of my own issue later in the day.
Unfortunately the majority of the coffee has stuck together
so we have to make an extract of it. Out of
my trades have made 50y & 1 pkt Chesterfields. Out
of the trade of $156.60 Treas. chq. hope to make 50 pkts
cigs & 200 of for Warren's benefit. - Here's hoping. Drew
Col Scanlon in the Bridge Tourney. Quoted at 8/1 in the
"books" that are being run. Invested 5y on ourselves.
[*Canteen issue.*]
Tuesday 26th September 1944.
Made up a little concoction - chocolate, milk, sugar
f & used 1/2 of my pitiful ration of rice in it.
Result felt hungrier than with an ordinary
meal - . Meals today were bloody awful. - "Air-Raid
(all clear) soup. Our syndicate opened a tin of
salmon (amongst 4) to try & augment the evening meal.
Had a filthy sleep last night due to the mosquitoes
ravaging me as all J. mos. nets were called in.
Canteen issue, N/Bks, pencils, shoe laces, Fish pills,
Ink (1 [[beer?]] bottle for 4 big rooms), fountain pen (1 to
a room of 32 men.) Had a "bun" given me - made out of
rice flour - tasted damned nice. Wish the meals
would improve. Had a yarn with Teddy re our New Guinea
project.
[*Red Cross blankets. issued*]
Wednesday 27th September 1944.
The Red Cross blankets (light wt.) which have been
in J. custody here since last winter were issued
today - 1 each to those people who are without
private blankets - intend using one tonight. Typically
J. to hold onto a thing for a year before issuing it.
Had our last cup of room coffee this morning. Managed
to "snare" some extra rice & mashed some cheese up
in hot water & added some milk to make a paste &
made a cake tasted delightful. Had a cake of soap
given me by Sandy Robertson - very good of him.
Started a West Building swap on the date that
Germany gets out if the war. 5 yen a "pop". Drew 14th bet.
Thursday 28th September 1944.
The new blankets are certainly nice & smooth to
sleep in. - Wonder what it will be like to sleep in
pyjamas & between sheets again. I really have
missed pyjamas since I've been a P.O.W. Had
a cup of coffee with the Major (aft.) & "Ginge" Howell
morn. Across the way in the school ground they
certainly are instilling the martial spirit into the
lads. Quite a No. of evacuees are coming to this
town. One of the officers brought some flowers, picked
whilst out on the rabbit feed detail, into the room.
They certainly bring a touch of civilisation into the
place. Had a surprise inspection this morning by
an official from the Bureau of War prisoners - Tokyo.
Friday 29th September 1944.
A screed came round from the International Committee, who
had been called down to the J. office & told that - after due
deliberation the J. gov't had decided to let Amer. Red X food
in through Russia (Vladivostock) but they he could NOT
say when it would reach this camp. - cereals could NOT
be increased t & as for vegetables since they were
under preferential arrangements & this prefecture was
concentrating on cereals it would be some time before
vegs. could be increased (if at all) However if any officer
became sick through malnutrition his ration could be
increased subject to the J' doctors approval. We are
supposed to get a 10% increase in cereals (water ration)
starting at the beginning of October. 'Twill be grand
to get out of this bloody hole - Lot of colds about.
[*Soap issue.*]
Saturday 30th September 1944.
About 10 or so stringed musical instruments have been
purchased for the camp out of the canteen profits. No
instruments such as a trombone, saxaphone etc are allowed
to be purchased. - A typical J. mix up. Last Saturday
an order was put out - In future Saturday inspection
will be held at 0900 hrs. - ½ hour later word came
round that the inspection would be held at 0930 hrs,
finally held at 1015 hrs. This Saturday notice
came round that the inspection would be held at 1100 hrs.
Canteen issue = Razor blade, Toilet paper, 1/2 bar
laundry soap, 1 bar toilet soap. - Am right out of the
latter. Am getting a cold which makes me feel
damn miserable in this place. Due to lack of coal
tea water now only is coming out of twice a day instead of 4.
[*10% increase in rice. - Put in a 25 word post card to home.*]
Sunday 1st October 1944.
Today we go onto semi - winter rations - 10% increase
in rice supposed to get 350 grams of rice per
person per day. For the morning & mid-day meal
this was so but for the evening meal it dropped.
^The J.O.. who was the doctor took a lunch time & evening
meal rice ration from one of the rooms weighed them
& found them 352 & 295 grams resp. - our room
put in an official complaint re the evening meal
to the Division officer. Rations are very light. Had
a good sleep this morning. Shakespeare's - "Twelfth
Knight" was the forecasted show for this evening's meal
The J's objected & a scratch show had to be run.
Sent a 25 word post card home to home - hope it's delivery is [[?]]
Monday 2nd October 1944.
Our post cards were handed back by the J.'s. we were
told we could write a 40 word post card but NOT make
it so telegraphic as our 25 worder. Rumour now hath
it that they are to be sent over Radio Tokyo. A xx screed
embodying new rules is being promulgated by the J's.
Evidently, we are to be allowed to lie down all day &
everyday, which will be a great relief. The Colonel & I
won our 1st round match of the Aust. Bridge Tourney.
Climbed into my long winter woollens last night. Tis
getting chilly nowadays. I'm afraid that we will be in
for a cold winter. Protest was put in re last nights
rice was it was damned slight. Cracked a tin of Bully
beef for our syndicate of 3. made it last over 3 meals.
[*Rec'd. letter & photo. from home dated 30 April 44.*]
Tuesday 3rd October 1944.
Intensely cold today - had to resurrected my winter of
clothing. Looks as if winter is coming early. Some Aust.
mail came in early this morning & I was lucky enough to
click - In the letter was a photo of the Mater. Gosh
she looks well & seems to be putting on weight. Noticed
the unit badge she was wearing. Quite a few letters
for Aussies came in, plus photos & great was the
rejoicing. Altered my letter to say that I had rec'd
one from home. Made a lovely concoction for evening
meal, chocolate, milk, prunes & raisins & put it on
my evening rice. Felt a damned side hungrier when I
finished that when I started, am going to muck around
in the kitchen when I get home.
DATE WON LOST BAL. AGAINST
June 15 5.00 +5.00 McDonald.
Bowring.
" 16 4.00 +9.00 R'son
19 2.50 +11.50 Lyons
Round Robbins
Martin
Schults Lyons
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